One of the great days on the sports calendar is here: NFL schedule release day!
The one day where we can all come together, look at the same list of games and confidently state wildly different predictions about teams, rosters and games that will likely look totally different when the moment arrives. This is what all football fans do, and it's one of my favorite yearly traditions in sports.
Here are my game-by-game predictions for the 2020 Eagles season.
Week 1: at Washington Redskins
The Eagles are lucky this game is where it is. Washington has been a tricky opponent, especially in both games last year. Ron Rivera will bring professionalism to the sidelines, and the Washington defense could get really good, really fast with Chase Young in the fold. But the Eagles have a clear advantage over a new coaching staff out of the gate.
Prediction: Win (1-0)
Week 2: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Total toss-up game. It's become popular to rag on the Rams, but these teams are coming off remarkably similar seasons.
Point differential: Eagles (+31), Rams (+30)
Record: Eagles (9-7), Rams (9-7)
Conference record: Eagles (7-5), Rams (7-5)
The major difference: Los Angeles played in the NFL's most difficult division, while the Eagles played in what was the weakest. This feels like a field goal game. And it feels like one that will have major tiebreaker implications down the line.
Prediction: Loss (1-1)
Week 3: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
It will be fun to watch Joe Burrow, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Bengals will be much improved, but they aren't ready for a road game in Philadelphia.
Prediction: Win (2-1)
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Week 4: at San Francisco 49ers (Sunday Night Football)
Here's where the step up in competition hits. San Francisco is the NFC's best roster, and matches up well against the Eagles strengths. Nick Bosa vs. Andre Dillard (or Jason Peters) feels like a nightmare waiting to happen.
Prediction: Loss (2-2)
Week 5: at Pittsburgh Steelers
A late Sunday night out west (assuming the game is allowed to be played in California) followed up by an early Sunday window in Pittsburgh? Yikes. This is a winnable game, but the home team prevails. The Steelers return a top-10 defense. If Ben Roethisberger is healthy and an average quarterback at age 38, the Steelers are a playoff team.
Prediction: Loss (2-3)
Week 6: vs. Baltimore Ravens
The third leg of an early-season gauntlet. Baltimore has the NFL's best roster and most dynamic quarterback. Yes, Howie Roseman tried to infuse the defense with speed this offseason. But they still won't be able to catch Lamar Jackson.
Prediction: Loss (2-4)
Week 7: vs. New York Giants (Thursday Night Football)
A division game four nights after completing the 49ers-Steelers-Ravens trifecta is just cruel, but at least the opponent is soft. The Eagles are 20-4 in their last 24 against New York. Make it 21-4 in a blowout. Doug Pederson does what he has to on a yearly basis by rallying the team out of a self-dug hole.
Prediction: Win (3-4)
Week 8: vs. Dallas Cowboys (Sunday Night Football)
The Thursday night Week 7 game gives the Eagles an edge and four extra days' rest heading into the biggest game of the season. With Dallas coming in at 5-2, it's a must win. Carson Wentz outduels Dak Prescott in a shootout to give the season life.
Prediction: Win (4-4)
Week 10: at New York Giants
Facing the same opponent twice within a three-game span is tricky, but the Giants pass rush will be weak in Week 10 as it was in Week 7.
Prediction: Win (5-4)
Week 11: at Cleveland Browns
The post-hype Browns are dangerous, and a problem for an Eagles team riding high on a three-game win streak. Kevin Stefanski has been part of a Vikings offensive staff that gave the Eagles issues in both 2018 and 2019. It'll happen again in a tough road loss.
Prediction: Loss (5-5)
Week 12: vs. Seattle Seahawks (Monday Night Football)
It's time for Wentz to avenge two awful days vs. the Seahawks at home last season. The Eagles finally find a way to beat Russell Wilson. Here comes a run to get the city ready for another late-season push.
Prediction: Win (6-5)
Week 13: at Green Bay Packers
One of my strongest takes heading into 2020: The Packers were a fraud 13-win team last year, and are headed back to .500 this coming season. For the second year in a row, the Eagles find a way to win in Lambeau.
Prediction: Win (7-5)
Week 14: vs. New Orleans Saints
Get ready for Joe Buck and Troy Aikman to be on the call in the FOX Game of the Week. It'll be a big one with playoff implications. The great news for the Eagles: This will be the third of three straight road games for New Orleans. That's a brutal spot, and one ripe for an Eagles win.
Prediction: Win (8-5)
Week 15: at Arizona Cardinals
Uh oh. Here's the trap game. Kyler Murray is ready to pop in 2020, and the Eagles secondary will have issues containing DeAndre Hopkins. Rookie linebacker/safety Isaiah Simmons makes a game-changing play late to strip Wentz, and the Eagles have a loss we'll be talking about for months.
Prediction: Loss (8-6)
Week 16: at Dallas Cowboys
You knew it would come down to this. Dallas at 8-6. Philadelphia at 8-6. If the Eagles win, the division is clinched thanks to multiple head-to-head wins. In 2018, the Cowboys took the NFC East with a home win in December. In 2019, the Eagles returned the favor. It's Dallas' turn in 2020. Prescott has a huge game throwing to CeeDee Lamb, opening back back up draft weekend takes like an old wound. The Eagles aren't dead, but they need to win in Week 17 and major help to make the playoffs.
Prediction: Loss (8-7)
Week 17: vs. Washington Redskins
The win happens, but help doesn't arrive. In a crowded NFC field, the Eagles lose out on complicated tiebreakers with a few other nine-win teams. For the first time since the 2016 season, the Eagles aren't playoff bound.
Prediction: Win (9-7)
